Everybody who’s visiting Penang for the first time will pass this museum on Armenian Street.
This is the first time we’ve stopped to go inside and here’s what we think of this 3-floor gallery!
Entrance Fees
It costs RM10 per adult to enter and visit all levels of the gallery. We think it’s worth it since there are many art pieces to see here.
What Is This Museum About?
We thought this museum was going to be about traditional batik methods, but no. It’s about a niche art technique of combining traditional batik with fine arts.
There are several works from different artists showcased here. All the paintings have background information about the respective artist and concept right next to the painting.
Which is nice since the single staff member in this gallery doesn’t give tours.
Some of the paintings are abstract pieces. Many have a dreamlike quality to them. The paintings are not arranged by artist or theme but scattered in a random fashion.
There’s one artist name that pops up frequently – Chuah Thean Teng. He’s the father of this painting method.
On the ground floor close to the ticket counter is a glass case with traditional and commercial batik equipment. There’s even an incomplete piece that was done by a British royal family member!
In the corner are some seats in front of a TV and we think it is for featuring traditional batik techniques, but it was not playing during our visit.
Facilities In This Museum
This museum is not wheelchair accessible. Most of the paintings are upstairs which can only be accessed by steep wooden staircases. There are a total of 3 floors that are open for visitors to see, including the ground floor.
It surprised us that this gallery is not fully air-conditioned. There are only fans at each level but plenty of seats to catch your breath.
Toilets are on the ground floor, and there is also a seating area/ patio on the second floor.
You can buy some paintings (including original pieces), post cards or the museum art book downstairs by the ticket counter.
Conclusion
If you’re already in Armenian Street and are looking for something to do other than eating or browsing through shops, we’d recommend a visit to Batik Painting Museum.
It will take you as quick as 15 minutes to go through the whole gallery if you’re not planning on reading all the accompanying descriptions.
Furthermore, a visit here is inexpensive and you’re supporting the local artist community (especially if you pick up an original work while you’re here).
Penang State Art Gallery
The Penang State Art Gallery is free to visit and has air-conditioning. You’ll see more works by local artists here. The pieces feature different techniques and art media – some more unconventional than others.
Other Museums In Penang
The Batik Painting Museum is only one of several museums you can visit in Penang. And it’s not the only one along Armenian Street either.
Street Art In Penang
The heritage zone of Penang is like an open art gallery itself. There are many instances of street art in Penang that you can see while exploring the city on foot.
